Yeah, said this from the beginning: the solution is to simply remove the popularity system altogether. Have no category for "Top Played". If people want to play a map so desperately, they can pick it out from their bookmark instead of finding it in top played - if a player really liked a map, he'll remember it and try to play it again, he doesn't need "Top Played" list. I think a lot of people just play the top played maps because they believe there is no point playing any other map because there's no players for them. This popularity system creates a destructive herd mentality.
Although, map makers need to also understand marketing techniques. You must make your map stand out in a good way that encourages people to play it. Maps not on page 1 still do get quite a few players thanks to this.
Yeah, said this from the beginning: the solution is to simply remove the popularity system altogether. Have no category for "Top Played". If people want to play a map so desperately, they can pick it out from their bookmark instead of finding it in top played - if a player really liked a map, he'll remember it and try to play it again, he doesn't need "Top Played" list. I think a lot of people just play the top played maps because they believe there is no point playing any other map because there's no players for them. This popularity system creates a destructive herd mentality.
Although, map makers need to also understand marketing techniques. You must make your map stand out in a good way that encourages people to play it. Maps not on page 1 still do get quite a few players thanks to this.